Here’s a picture of me wearing my northeast jacket gifted by my Mami. She was one of those people in my life who helped form happy and vivid memories of Assam. Since my father was in the Indian Police Services of Punjab, I was born and brought up there, however, I do believe that we have always carried the Assamese heritage with us through the food, speaking Assamese at home, and the simplicity of life in general.
Assam and northeast travels have been my vacations for several summers, growing up. Wearing this jacket instantly connects me to the days back when we would travel to Guwahati and go to meet my cousins in Jorhat, from there we would further travel together to the Tea gardens and then to Dibrugarh. From the city hustle and the giant mosquitoes to the continuous rains, the mud and the fresh green landscape.
Living in different cities, I have never missed carrying this jacket with me. Wearing it reminds me of a part of me that is rooted in a rich culture. It always gives me an opportunity to share the joy of the Northeast with others.
Thank you Teesta for this beautiful nostalgic narration.
Teesta Das is currently working as a Design Strategist, based out of Chandigarh due to lockdown otherwise Mumbai.